The 2012 Ontario Budget is deeply disappointing for the nearly 900,000
men, women, and children in Ontario who currently rely on Ontario Works
and the Ontario Disability Support Program for income and other
necessary benefits.

The Budget includes a freeze on social assistance rates and a delay in
increasing the Ontario Child Benefit to the promised maximum of $1,310
per child per year  which will also hurt low-income working Ontarians.

But the Budget also includes cuts to other social assistance benefits of
$30 million this year alone, and directions on restructuring OW and ODSP
employment supports services. These announcements severely constrain the
discussions that are currently underway through the Social Assistance
Review.

Both the Liberals and the NDP are looking for feedback on Budget 2012 
we need to tell them that the budget deficit cannot be resolved on the
backs of the poor.

We're asking people to contact both the Liberals and the NDP, and tell
them:

* The freeze to social assistance rates will hurt the poorest
people in Ontario  people on assistance need an increase that will let
them keep up with the rising cost of living;
* The Social Assistance Review must be allowed to complete its work
before government makes any decisions on other changes; and,
* The full Ontario Child Benefit should be implemented now.